News Brief (E402, January 28, 2011)

Top News

Experts confirm cause of rhino’s death at Cat Tien National Park
Experts looking into the death of a rare (possibly the last in Vietnam) Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) at Cat Tien National Park (NP) have confirmed it died from gunshot wounds, not natural causes. A rhinoceros can live to around 40 years of age in the wild, but this one is believed to have lived for only 15-25 years.

The conclusion was reached by a team of experts from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Cat Tien NP, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Freeland Foundation (an international non-governmental organization working in Asia for environmental conservation and human rights), together with two veterinarians, one a pathology expert from the University of Cambridge in southern England. WWF and Cat Tien NP officers have urged police to investigate further and find those responsible for the killing.
Vietnamese version:Ket luan dieu tra ve cai chet cua te giac VQG Cat Tien

Ba Ria-Vung Tau:Dugong’s cause of death to remain a mysteryOn January 24, after looking for a place to send the body of a deceased dugong, the Director of Con Dao NP reported that the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and other organizations said they were not dugong (Dugong dugon) experts and therefore would not be able to discover the reason for its death. The NP are currently completing procedures to transfer the dugong to the VietnamNationalMuseum of Nature.

On January 20, the 80kg dugongwas found dead at Con Dao NP by fishermen. The dugong is an endangered marine animal listed in Vietnam’s and the IUCN’s Red List, and the failure to learn the reason for the animal’s death may hamper conservation efforts to protect the small number of Vietnam’s surviving dugongs.
Vietnamese version:Lam thu tuc de chuyen xac Dugong ve Bao tang Thien Nhien

Khanh Hoa: Rare wildlife rescued
On January 24, Khanh Hoa Environmental Police working with the Ninh Hoa Forest Protection Department (FPD) checked a restaurant believed to be keeping live and frozen wildlife, and seized a large cache of wild animals, such as the black-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix Nigripes) andrasse (Viverricula indica). The black-shanked douc langur and rasse are the rare species listed in group IB of Decree 32/ND-CP - the group of rare wild animals forbidden to be exploited or used for commercial purposes. Local authorities are preparing their prosecution cases.
Vietnamese version: Khanh Hoa giai thoat nhieu DVHD quy hiem

Dak Lak: Three wild elephants drownOne month earlier, three wild juvenile elephants weighing around 150-200kg each drowned in separate locations in Ea Sup district. Local authorities are now investigating possible reasons for the elephant’s deaths and at this stage there is no evidence to suggest that humans were responsible.
Vietnamese version:Lien tiep phat hien voi rung chet o Dak Lak

Son La: Muong Giang forest under serious threat
On January 24, the Nong Thon Ngay Nay newspaper reported that hundreds of hectares of the Muong Giang Forest has been destroyed. Iron-wood (Burretiodendron hsienmu) is being openly and illegally exploited without the intervention of forest guards. In addition to the illegal logging, human settlements are also encroaching upon the forest area.
Vietnamese version: Muong Giang pha rung kieu tan diet

Ha Tinh: Poachers attack forest ranger
On January 22, an officer from the Ke Go Nature Reserve was stabbed and seriously injured by one of three poachers when he encountered the trio illegally logging timber. Two were later caught by police.
Vietnamese version: Lam tac dam thung nguc can bo bao ve rung

Cao Bang: Wildlife destroys cropsAt the Trung Khanh Nature Reserve, one of the few conservation areas left for the rare Cao Vit black crested gibbon (Nomascus nasutus nasutus) and possibly bears, the forests are seemingly so well protected that macaque populations are growing too quickly and are destroying tents and crops and harassing local residents. Residents have repeatedly complained to authorities and international conservation organizations, but so far no measures to deal with the issue have been effectively implemented.
Vietnamese version: Cao Bang Thu rung ve pha hoa mau cua nguoi dan

Documentary about Vietnam’s bears aired on VTV2A 30 minute documentary on Vietnam’s bear species entitled ‘working together to protect the bear’ was aired throughout January on VTV2, a national television channel. The documentary examines the status of bear species in Vietnam, including the Vietnamese habit of using bear bile as a traditional medicine, the illegal captivity of bears, the situation of bear bile farms, and the bear product trade. It also explores efforts made by authorities and non-government organizations such as Animals Asia Foundation and Education for Nature-Viet Nam (ENV) towards protecting bears and ending the illegal consumption of bear products in Viet Nam.

T-shirt design competition to promote environmental issuesResponding to Earth Hour’s campaign for 2011 (taking place on 26 March), Boo Fashion, in cooperation with WWF and the Hanoi Education and Training Department has organized a T-shirt design competition entitled “Turn off to light up ideas”. The nationwide competition is being held to raise awareness amongst young Vietnamese about climate change and the environment by printing 1200 T-shirts of the 12 best designs. Earth Hour will receive 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts.